By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Kenya is taking an expanded
technology agenda to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA 81), with President William Ruto expected to advance discussions on
artificial intelligence governance and safety, digital resilience, investment
and stronger African technological capabilities.
Kenya’s Special Envoy on
Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, outlined the country’s priorities during a
media briefing alongside Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Korir
Sing’oei and Government Spokesperson Charles Owino.
Thigo said President Ruto’s
technology agenda in New York will focus on strengthening Kenya’s role in
global discussions on emerging technologies while linking international
technology governance with investment, national capability and public value.
A key engagement will see
President Ruto and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb co-chair a high-level
roundtable on “AI Middle Powers and Shared Sovereignty.”
The discussion will focus on
the need for countries to have greater agency across the AI value chain,
including infrastructure, computing capacity, data, models, talent and
institutions, amid recognition that no single country controls the entire AI
stack.
Kenya will also join France,
Spain and Australia in advancing the Coalition for Children’s Rights and
Protection in the Age of AI. The country will participate in discussions under
the “Governing at the Speed of AI” initiative, which will address international
coordination, AI evaluation and crisis preparedness.
Climate resilience will form
another part of Kenya’s technology agenda. Through the African Union climate
architecture, President Ruto is expected to advance the use of AI and climate
data for early warning and response as Africa prepares for climate risks
associated with the 2026–2027 El Niño.
At Unstoppable Africa,
President Ruto will participate in a Presidential Fireside Chat on “Building a
Digital Nation,” where he will share Kenya’s experience in using digital
infrastructure and technology to improve public services, create jobs and attract
investment.
The President is also
expected to engage Cisco and Kenya’s Ministry of Defence on a proposed regional
AI Center of Excellence aimed at strengthening AI and cybersecurity
capabilities.
Kenya’s international
technology engagements will continue later in the year when the country hosts
the Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi in December, bringing together the
global community to discuss governance and technology in the age of AI.
Thigo said the engagements
reflect Kenya’s effort to connect its participation in global technology
governance with domestic investment, technological capability and public value.
